this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2026
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Yeah all those fans of physical media immediately switched to PC
If I have to deal with digital media I prefer to do it on one where hardware configurations are open and operating system isn't locked.
Digital media on a locked hardware platform that doesn't let you load your OS of choice or even programs makes for a more restrictive digital media experience.
You can, with a little effort, back up your steam install files. In the unlikely event that Valve pulls the rug users have the option to insure against it.
Game's usually don't work without steam. Try to run game by running the executable directly; 99% will fall to launch. Sorry
that "a little effort" meant specifically finding the way to launch games without Steam, I reckon. apparently most games on Steam have only the very basic Steam DRM: make a back up of the game, deal with the DRM, and keep it available to play whenever
Yeah that's not true. Only games that use Steam DRM will not work without Steam (though you can get them to work, hence the existence of piracy).
Steam DRM is completely optional on the part of the devs. If you don't like that you can't just launch the .exe or whatever, then take it up with the devs who chose that DRM scheme.
Ok gimme am example of a game that you can launch directly then. All the ones I tried didn't work
https://store.steampowered.com/curator/38523697-DRM-FREE-GAMES/?appid=274190
Risk of Rain (the original), last I checked worked without steam. You just need to delete or relocate the steam_api dll file.
Hard drives are physical storage.
It's not a "physical media" issue, it's about monopolizing and raising prices.